An early Tesla Cybertruck recently fetched $400,000 in an auction hosted by the Petersen Museum in Los Angeles. Despite the uncertainty surrounding Tesla’s delivery timeline for the Cybertruck, the prestigious Petersen Museum chose to auction one off, adding to the excitement around Tesla’s upcoming electric pickup truck.
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‘Low-VIN’ Tesla Cybertruck Goes Under the Hammer
The museum’s annual gala featured a unique fundraising approach this year, involving the auction of a “low-VIN Cybertruck.” The Petersen Museum, closely linked to Tesla due to hosting the Cybertruck’s public debut in 2020 and organizing a Tesla exhibition, aims to raise funds independently through this initiative. Interestingly, Tesla doesn’t seem directly involved in this particular auction, and the museum plans to procure the Cybertruck from Tesla, with no specific timeframe mentioned. Meanwhile, the concept of a “low-VIN” remains somewhat ambiguous, as its definition can vary.
Jay Leno’s hosted gala charged attendees $1,700 per ticket, and the Petersen Museum welcomed external bids as well. Although the official auction results are pending, attendees have disclosed that the Tesla Cybertruck fetched $400,000 during the event. This amount is approximately five times the anticipated starting price of the higher-end version of the electric truck. These funds are intended to support the museum, which functions as a non-profit organization.
Over 1.8 Million Bookings
In September, Electrek reported that the Tesla Cybertruck boasts a reservation list exceeding 1.8 million prospective buyers, including automotive expert Sandy Munro. Munro made a $100 deposit to secure a reservation spot after Elon Musk’s announcement, with plans to conduct an in-depth vehicle analysis on his YouTube channel. Recent developments also indicate Tesla is accumulating a substantial inventory of Cybertruck castings at Gigafactory Texas, strongly hinting at an impending production commencement.
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BREAKING: The Cybertruck auction at the Petersen Museum reportedly went for just $400,000
Here is some of the auction!!! pic.twitter.com/YPrweLxG9c
— Greggertruck (@greggertruck) October 8, 2023
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What We Think
Wealthy individuals often splurge in rather weird ways. While it’s uncertain whether someone has really obtained an early Tesla Cybertruck, he or she might have bagged a reservation that helps them become one of the first owners. Considering Tesla’s association with the museum, there might have been some sort of an arrangement. The finer details of this won’t be made public. But what’s certain is that someone has paid $400,000 for a vehicle valued at approximately $80,000. Even if someone actually acquires a “low VIN”, its value still doesn’t warrant such a high price tag.
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